Denny Hamlin Trash-Talks Michael Jordan Before Kansas Race; Jordan Responds

In the fluorescent hum of a Kansas City hotel suite, Michael Jordan—basketball legend turned NASCAR team owner—leans back, eyes fixed on a split-screen of stock cars ripping around Kansas Speedway and playoff hoops flickering from TNT. It's Saturday night, May 10, 2025, and Denny Hamlin, his co-owner at 23XI Racing, is already needling him about tomorrow's big race. Hamlin's words hang in the air like exhaust fumes: "If something weird doesn’t happen, it’s a guaranteed win."

The Pre-Race Jabs

Denny Hamlin doesn't hold back when it comes to Michael Jordan. On the Actions Detrimental podcast, Hamlin spilled the details of their weekend sparring, admitting he trash-talked Jordan relentlessly leading into the Kansas NASCAR Cup Series race.^[1] It started early, with Hamlin predicting victory for his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, as long as the track didn't throw any curveballs. Jordan, ever the competitor, soaked it up but fired back in his own way. Hamlin described how Jordan would cheer for him on most race days—unless a 23XI car was in the mix, turning the suite into a neutral zone of tense allegiance.^[2]

Picture the scene: Hamlin, the veteran driver with three Daytona 500s under his belt, ribbing the six-time NBA champ about pit strategies and tire wear. It's not just banter; it's fuel. Hamlin said Jordan wants to beat him head-to-head as much as anyone in the field.^[3] That edge sharpens when their shared team, 23XI, fields cars like Tyler Reddick's No. 45—especially after Reddick topped practice sessions that Friday. Hamlin countered Jordan's raised eyebrow with reassurance: his crew shines at overnight tweaks, turning fast laps into race-day dominance.^[4] Short version? The talk was flying thick.

Jordan's Quiet Counterpunch

Michael Jordan didn't escalate with volume. Instead, he let a simple line do the work. When Hamlin boasted about his guaranteed win, Jordan looked him square and said, "I believe you."^[1] Dry. Knowing. The kind of response that lands like a fadeaway jumper—effortless, but loaded.

Earlier that Saturday night, as Jordan hosted a casual watch party with drivers Ryan Blaney, Bubba Wallace, and Riley Herbst, the conversation circled back to Hamlin's No. 11. Jordan admitted his worry outright: "Yeah, I’m worried about the 11. Denny said he’s going to win, and I’m worried about the 11."^[2] They were glued to the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race downstairs at the track, the NBA playoffs buzzing in the background, but Jordan's mind was on Sunday's 400-mile grind. Hamlin, catching wind of it later, laughed it off on the podcast—Jordan's concern was real, but so was the mutual respect laced through their jabs.^[3] One beat. Then Hamlin added that he dishes out plenty of trash to Jordan, keeping their co-owner dynamic electric.^[4]

Race Day Unfolds

Sunday, May 11, dawned crisp at Kansas Speedway, the 1.5-mile oval baking under a Midwest sun. Hamlin put his money where his mouth was, leading 131 of the 274 laps in a display that had the crowd—and Jordan—on edge.^[1] But NASCAR's chaos is its charm. Tyler Reddick, piloting the 23XI No. 45 Toyota, clawed through the field with the precision of a late-season surge, snagging his fifth win of 2025.^[2] Hamlin crossed the line fourth, solid but short of the prophecy.

The 23XI stable shone bright that afternoon. All four of their drivers cracked the top 15: Reddick in first, Bubba Wallace fifth, rookie Riley Herbst 14th, and Corey Heim 15th.^[3] For Jordan, co-founder of the team with Hamlin back in 2020, it was vindication amid the friendly fire. Wallace, ever the team player, held strong in the midfield pack, while Herbst and Heim showed the depth that's pushed 23XI into contention. Hamlin's lead laps painted him as the early threat, but Reddick's late charge flipped the script—something weird did happen, just not to Hamlin's detriment entirely.^[4] Punchy finish. Team first, always.

After the Checkered Flag

The garage area buzzed as crews packed up, but the real heat was between Hamlin and Jordan. Post-race, Jordan pulled no punches in explaining his fire. "Look, I’m racing against Denny. I really wanted to beat him because I know we’re going to talk a lot of trash a little bit later," he said, the words carrying the weight of their dual roles—partners in ownership, rivals on the track.^[1] It's a line that captures their bond: Jordan, the billionaire icon who's poured passion into NASCAR since buying into Bubba Wallace's vision, treats every duel like Game 7.

Hamlin echoed that intensity on the podcast, framing their exchanges as pure competition. Jordan's desire to top him runs as deep as against any driver, he noted, even as co-owners steering 23XI toward championships.^[2] The weekend's talk wasn't malice; it was the spark that keeps the sport alive. Wallace's fifth-place run added to the team's glow, a reminder that 23XI's rise—fueled by Jordan's star power and Hamlin's expertise—thrives on these personal stakes. One long afternoon. Layers peeled back.

Their history adds texture. Hamlin, with his sharp wit and win tally, has been Jordan's racing proxy since 23XI's launch. Trash talk? It's their language, bridging boardrooms and victory lanes. Jordan's post-race candor showed no hard feelings— just the itch to win that defined his Bulls dynasty.

What We Couldn't Confirm

A viral clip from May 11 suggested Michael Jordan grabbed Denny Hamlin by the throat in a heated post-race exchange, but details remain murky without clear verification. Hamlin addressed the moment as competitive playfulness, on-brand for their dynamic, yet the full context eludes solid footing.

In the end, the Kansas weekend underscores the unlikely alchemy of Hamlin and Jordan: friends, foes, and architects of NASCAR's next era. Reddick's triumph for 23XI dulled Hamlin's bold call, but the banter endures. As the season rolls on, expect more words—and wins—to fly.